Boulder County residents should prepare for power outages this week amid a Thursday high-wind watch along the Front Range that could bring wind gusts up to 80 mph, Xcel Energy said.
The energy utility is warning that the elevated risk of wildfires could spur outages, according to an Xcel social media post. Power lines will be on Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings, which means lines are more sensitive and could cut the flow of electricity if something, like a tree branch, touches them, according to Xcel spokesperson Lisa Andersen.
The warning comes amid a high wind watch, which is forecast to bring sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph on Thursday to the base of the foothills in the Boulder County plains below 6,000 feet of elevation, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts in the plains could reach 80 mph near the base of the foothills, which could fan any wildfires that may spark, according to NWS…